Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-12-22


the Habits and Customs OF the African
Republic A Dark Picture ''BuGgA
Buggas" and ''Driver'' Ants.
''When the judgment comes hope it
will begin with Liberia. II il does it will
be used up before it can 90 any further"
These are the words in which Charles
II. j. Taylor, the United States minister
to the African republic, summed up his
opinion of the little country on the west
coast. Mr.. Taylor has recently returned
from his station, and has resigned his
mission. As his resignation does not take
effect until Jan. H. and as he is therefore
still connected with the state department,
he is wary of expressing his opinions.
Mr.. Taylor is colored man of marked
ability, and has been city attorney OF
Kansas City. He chatted entertainingly
of tho habits and customs of Liberia.
'The startling disproportion, he said,
''between the natives and the immigrants
and their descendants is not generally
known. OF the 1000, 900 inhabitants of
Liberia, SSS. 0O0 are natives and $4,000 inn
migrants. There were $4,000 immigrants
from America, but, as you see, most Of
them are dead. They have been going
over from America for sixty-six years,
work there for fifty years, and
these figures indicate all they have
accomplished. The civilized are to the
uncivilized as one to hundred.
''There are never any children In the
third generation of immigrant families
One reason is the humid dampness of the
country, which imperceptibly, but surely,
exhausts the strength of all but natives.
The temperature ranges between S3 and
az degs. You may polish your shoes at
night, and in the morning they will be
covered with mildew. All of the natives
go nude. Two of the tribes are very light
colored and pretty. The full dress of the
men is tall hat and an umbrella. Then,
in general, all the uncivilized influences
are the stronger. The children OF immi-
grants have never seen any civilization
but that of their parents, and they soon
learn to go nude, like the great majority
of people about them. There are many
other evil things about Liberia Of which
cannot speak now. When / went to Lii
IBERIA l thought wanted every negro in
America to pack his sachel and go TO that
paradise. Now / say to them, stay away
from it. Only deluded American negroes
go there now. They are led to go by
the Colonization society. The motives OF
the society are good, but they do not know
the truth about Liberia"
"What are some striking facts about
the condition Of the country
'There Is not horse or n mule or a
jackass in the country. The cows arc
about as big as Newfoundland dogs and
give no milk. The oxen are useless.
There is not.a carriage or wagon or even
q wheelbarrow in the republic, and there
are not three plows owned in the whole
population. They have secretary of the
navy, but not canoe nor rowboat They
! have a secretary of war, but not cannon
to fire salute. The army consists of AT
soldiers, of whom 3S8 are officers and 20
privates. The legislature meets annually
and consists of eight senator's and thirteen
representatives, who stand for $3.50
voters. The natives are not represented
! in tho government The president Is IL.
| w. r. johnson, who was born there Of
| American parents. He wears o linen
/ duster in addition to his plug hat and
umbrella. He appoints all the officers,
from members of his cabinet down TO
/ constables. Nearly every voter is an Off
/ Ger of some kind.
''When the immigrant arrives he is met
| by the musical force of the country, which
! consists of one,fife and one drum. Later,
| he meets the bugga buggas, and tho
/ drivers. These are ants. The bugga bug
| gas believe in woman rule. They arc COM
manded by a queen, who is as big as a
mans two thumbs and looks like white
| piece of bacon. She and her followers will
eat anything but iron. You may build a
house one day, and the next day, if you
were to strike it, the whole structure
| would fall.
"The drivers-oh, Lord-they will eat
up man. They have eaten six natives,
and the natives sometimes punish GRIM
| iDal or an enemy by tying him to tree
and leaving him to his fate. The drivers
are the scavengers of the country. They
march like an army, in closely knitted
line, numbering myriads. They have
| generals, colonels, captains, lieutenants
| and privates ranking according to size.
The generals are half as big as little
finger. They eat everything unclean.
| The natives are obliged to bathe twice q
day, otherwise the drivers would over
| whelm them A boa constructor, after
/ crushing O victim to death, viii make a
wide circuit around the body to be sure
| that no drivers are near. The serpent
knows that after he has swallowed the
1 body he must sleep, and IL the drivers
caught him in his post prandial slumber
| they would eat him up The drivers visit
house about twice month. Then you
have to go away until they are gone"
| ssWhat do the people do for iving!"
''I will only say that they earn their
| living in different way from anybody in
America. cannot answer that question
with propriety yet. New York Mail
and Express.